San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-20
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER, 20, 1887.
LINCOLN'S CANDIDACY.

Because Robert Lincoln persistently
refuses to allow his name to be COnsid-
cred as a candidate for presidential hon
ors, 1t by no means follows that he
will.nOt be such candidate. There are
popular movements, spontaneous and
practically disconnected with any os-
tensible efforts which sway whole
masses as by irresistible impulses and
compel public action altogether out OF
line with the predetermined motions Of
organized bodies. This fact mas been
noted more than once in our political
history, and when such general call
seems to be made for the seryi Ces OF any
particular Individual, it is u sign sure
and unmiStakable that the person So
called upon by the popular will has
been, IS the Greeks would express it.,
accepted of the gods.
SOGIe such spontaneity Of feeling seems
to attach itself TO the name o! Robert T.
Lincoln and { is by no means safe to Us
sumo that it arises solely from the great
uOli MS uhl lhAiltl sun ltlhllls Ill lllt
thought and affections Of the American
people. Apart from any considerations
OF his relation to that Great American
who towers transCendent over all others,
Abraham Lincoln, his son, Robert Todd
Lincoln, is known, by his acquaintance
and those who are at all informed as to
his qualifications, TO possess unusual
fitness for high office. He is not only a
good man In every sense of that much
abused term, but he is a man of rare in
tellectual pOwer-a man of keen and
deep perceptiye faculties, of broad
views, of very extensive intOrma-
ton, as well posted in American history
and those underCuTrents OfnatiOnal feel
ing which eventuate in political history
as any man Of his years in the country.
He is close student Of the political az
fairs OF his country, well up in matters
OF finance and revenue, is by no means
untsught in the arts of government
though hitherto remaining practically
and, OF his own, accord persistently in
the back ground. These things are we'll
known to very many OF Mr.. Lincoln's
fellow-citizens IN Illinois and G lsewhere,
and should the popular movement
which at times threatens to tide him out
OF the professional seclusion in which he
has chosen to hold himself rise hi Oh
enough to carry his name spOntane-
ously before the next repu blicsn
convention there need be no fear Of Its
finding him untitled for the high post OF
government. That there does seem to
be some tendency on the part of the re-
publican party to call Mr.. Lincoln from
his self-seleCted retire ment to the head
OF this government is Indicated by the
very general prominence given to his
name by the press of the whole country,
In connection with this office. 1t is not
as the Chicago Inter Ocean, a pro-
nounced Sherman paper, calls it, a Lin.
coin BOOM" There is nothing OF the
boom about it. Mr.. Lincoln refuses to
boom as did his father before him. The
immortal "Old Abe" when the Chicago
convention was considering his name
was wired by friend, telling him he
must give certain pledges to the delega
tion as to cabinet positions If he would
secure the nomination, and wired in re-
turn-'l authorize no bargains and will
be bound by nome" 1t is in this spirit
that Rob. Lincoln, the son, has ever met
NIL advances to become political candi.
date.
How marked the contrast between
this action and that Of Cleveland bar.
gaining with Hill of New York for the
presidential succession at the very houI
when the immortal events of a nations
formation were being celebrated.
The daily journals are legion that have
taken mp Mr.. LincOln's name and soun-
ded 1t forth az that of the peoples can
didate for 1888. These journals are
found from Maine to California, and
even the south ia not without its adyO-
Gates Of such a candidacy. The result
OF this movement is not at all defined.
The subject of 1t sits serenely in his Of
flee and asks to be let alone. The great
cloud that came over his life during the
years 1913 has not fully lifted and the